Mr. Latta introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and
Commerce

A BILL

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for
voluntary incentive auction revenue sharing.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the
Spectrum Innovation
Act.

2.

Voluntary
incentive auction revenue sharing

Section 309(j)(8) of the Communications Act
of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)(8)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph
(A), by striking (D), and (E), and inserting (D), (E),
and (F),; and

(2)

by adding at the
end the following:

(F)

Voluntary
incentive auction revenue sharing

(i)

In
general

Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) and except as provided
in subparagraphs (B) and (C), if the Commission determines that it is
consistent with the public interest in utilization of the spectrum for a
licensee to relinquish voluntarily some or all of its licensed spectrum usage
rights in order to permit the assignment of new initial licenses subject to new
service rules, the proceeds from the use of a competitive bidding system under
this subsection in granting such rights to another licensee shall be shared, in
an amount or percentage that the Commission considers appropriate, with the
licensee who voluntarily relinquished such rights.

(ii)

Amounts not
shared deposited in Treasury

In any case in which a licensee
voluntarily relinquishes licensed spectrum usage rights under clause (i), the
Commission shall deposit in the Treasury any portion of the proceeds described
in such clause that the Commission does not share with the licensee (except
proceeds retained under subparagraph (B) and deposits described in subparagraph
(C)).

.

3.

Rules for
voluntary incentive auction revenue sharing

Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall establish
rules for the implementation of voluntary incentive auction revenue sharing
under subparagraph (F) of section 309(j)(8) of the Communications Act of 1934,
as added by section 2(2).

4.

No
involuntary reclamation of frequencies

The Federal Communications Commission may
not reclaim frequencies of broadcast television licensees directly or
indirectly on an involuntary basis under subparagraph (F) of section 309(j)(8)
of the Communications Act of 1934, as added by section 2(2).